Old Belvedere

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Old Belvedere is a senior rugby union club in Dublin, Ireland based at Angelsea Road. Old Belvedere R.F.C. was founded in 1930. Originally an exclusive club for past pupils of Belvedere College the club became 'open' to all players on 22/4/1976.

Great Players:

In March 1948 Karl Mullen, as captain and hooker, led Ireland to unprecedented heights, when not only the Triple Crown and Championship were won, but also for the only time in Irish rugby history, the Grand Slam was won. Also in the Ireland pack was Des O’Brien who accumulated 20 Ireland caps in his career. In March 1949, again under Mullen’s captaincy the Triple Crown was retained.

In 1955, Tony O’Reilly, less than 12 months after playing in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup Final against Blackrock College, and then a member of Old Belvedere R.F.C., won his first international cap. A remarkable career had commenced which was to cover 16 seasons in international terms and embrace two Lions tours and 29 caps.

Following his outstanding 1979 performances for Ireland in Australia, Ollie Campbell at outhalf-orchestrated Ireland’s Triple Crown win in 1982. Ollie also featured on Lions selections, on tours of South Africa and New Zealand, and was Old Belvedere’s captain in the club’s jubilee year.

Seven in a Row:

In the period 1940 to 1946 Old Belvedere R.F.C., won the Leinster Senior Cup in seven successive seasons - a feat that remains unequalled, and were narrowly beaten in the final the following season.

More Recently:

In the season 1992/93 the First XV, captained by Mervyn Feely, coached by Donal Spring, and with former All Black scrum half Bruce Deans making a significant contribution, won the Leinster League. That win ensured the club of a place in the All Ireland League Division 2 for the season 1993/1994. In season 1994/1995 the club progressed further, and ended up top of A.I.L. Division 2, thus earning promotion to Division 1 of the All Ireland League. That team was again coached by Donal Spring, but now had Gareth Dinneen as captain, and featured Neil Francis in the 2nd row, (who in his career as a player with Blackrock College, London Irish, and Old Belvedere, accumulated 35 Ireland Caps). The Club enjoyed Division 1 status for three years thereafter, and now seeks to emulate that achievement by again securing Promotion from Division 2 to Division 1. In 2000 the Club’s youthful First Team Squad won the Leinster Championship, and in the season 2001/2002, club members Andy Dunne and Simon Keogh contributed to Leinster’s victory in the inaugural Celtic League, and Henry Bourke was a member of the Connacht Squad.

Ray Monaghan is the clubs current "ligind" amassing 99 AIL caps as of Saturday 2nd December 2006; despite announcing his 3rd retirement last year.